Lighters, having a flint and knurled wheel, for burners

ABSTRACT

Lighter device for gas burners of the type wherein a flint and a spark wheel are controlled by a spark wheel shaft includes an oscillating support in which the shaft is rotatably mounted, the support carrying a sleeve containing the flint. A lighting control shaft is provided and the end of the support opposite from the spark wheel is pivotally mounted on the lighting control shaft. A stationary part is provided in which the control shaft is mounted so that the oscillating support can rock the spark wheel to and from the burner between abutment means for limiting the rocking movement. The lighting control shaft can rotate freely in both the oscillating support and the stationary part, and the lighting control shaft and spark wheel shaft are rotatably connected one to the other by bevel gearing.

Perret [11] 3,743,472 [451 July 3,1973

[ LIGHTERS, HAVING A FLINT AND KNURLED WHEEL, FOR BURNERS [75] Inventor:

[73] Assignee: Application Des Gaz, Paris (Seine),

France 22 Filed: July 20,1971

21 App1.No.: 164,382

Roger Perret, Oullins, France [52] US. Cl 431/274, 431/274, 431/276, 431/277 [51] Int. Cl. F23q 1/02 [58] Field of Search 431/254, 267, 270, 431/273, 274, 276, 277

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,358,111 9/1944 Singer 431/27 X 2,515,518 7/1950 Knoy et a1. 431/27 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 515,104 12/1930 Germany 431/254 Primary Examiner-Carroll B. Dority, Jr. Assistant Examiner-Larry l. Schwartz Attorney-Arthur E. Dowell, Jr. et al.

[57] ABSTRACT Lighter device for gas burners of the type wherein a flint and a spark wheel are controlled by a spark wheel shaft includes an oscillating support in which the shaft is rotatably mounted, the support carrying a sleeve containing the flint. A lighting control shaft is provided and the end of the support opposite from the spark wheel is pivotally mounted on the lighting control shaft. A stationary part is provided in which the control shaft is mounted so that the oscillating support can rock the spark wheel to and from the burner between abutment means for limiting the rocking movement. The lighting control shaft can rotate freely in both the oscillating support and the stationary part, and the lighting control shaft and spark wheel shaft are rotatably connected one to the other by bevel gearing.

5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEBJIIL 3 ms D INVENTOR.

and

LIGHTERS, HAVING A FLINT AND KNURLED WHEEL, FOR BURNERS The present invention relates to a lighting device, having a flint and knurled wheel, suitable for use on any apparatus comprising a gas burner, for example a lamp, stove, cooker or blowpipe.

It is known that it is an easy matter to provide a lighting device by mounting a knurled wheel on a shaft in such manner that it may be driven in rotation by means of a knob or the like, and by applying against it a flint on which an appropriate spring is caused to act; the

flint may notably be mounted for sliding in a sleeve on I which is screwed a cap constituting the adjustable abutment means for the spring. The disadvantage of an arrangement of this kind is that if it is desired to effect lighting with a minimum of risk of failure, the inducement is to bring the knurled wheel and the flint extremely close to the burner in such manner that, with normal functioning of the latter under full power conditions, these two elements and the members associated with them are heated to an excessive temperature, the result of which is rapid deterioration.

It is the object of the present invention to obviate these disadvantages in an extremely simple manner.

According to the invention, the knurled-wheelcarrying shaft is mounted for rotation in an oscillating support on which the sleeve containing the flint is fast, the end of the said support opposite the knurled wheel being articulated to a support fixed about the axis of a drive shaft connected to the knurled-wheel-carrying shaft by an appropriate bevel gear, whereas stops are provided for limiting the angular travel of the oscillating support between an inoperative position wherein the flint and the knurled wheel are spaced apart from the lighter to be lit and an operative position wherein, on the contrary, these two means are located at a location which is advantageous for the lighting of the burner. Under these conditions, when the drive shaft is manipulated, since the flint applies a considerable braking torque to the knurled wheel, there is first of all entrained the oscillating support which, starting from the inoperative position, reaches a useful position, whereupon, on the rotation of the oscillating support being arrested the knurled wheel is rotated so as to produce sparks from the flint. Once lighting has been effected, it suffices to return the oscillating support into the inoperative position, such return optionally being effected under the influence of gravity or with the aid of an appropriate recall spring. I

The accompanying drawings, which are given purely by way of example, will afford a better understanding of the invention, of the features thereof and of the advantages which it is capable of affording.

FIG. 1 is an elevational view, partly in section, of a gas lamp having an incandescent mantle and involving application of a lighting device according to the invention the elements being shown in the operative position;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the said device;

FIG. 3 is a plan view drawn to a small scale of the base plate of the lamp of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the said base plate, the members or elements being shown in the inoperative position. In the said Figure, the section plane of FIG. 1 has been indicated at I--I.

FIG. 2 shows a gas lamp equipped with a lighter according to the invention. The lamp itself comprises a lower support or leg 1 of bell-shape and disposed therein is a cartridge containing liquefied pressure gas. A head 2 screwed on the support 1 permits extraction of the gas from the cartridge through the agency of a perforator device of known type, for the supply thereof to a burner 3, the flow of the said gas being controlled by a tap 4. The burner 3 is capped by an incandescent mantle 5, the entire arrangement being surrounded by a cylindrical glass casing 6 bearing on a circular base plate 7 secured to the head 2.

Secured on the base plate 7 is a yoke 8 (FIG. 2) said securing being effected by a rivet 9 (FIG. 1) extending into an aperture 84 (FIG. 2) formed in the yoke, and by means of dogs 8b projecting form the upper face of the said yoke to penetrate into associated apertures in the plate, for the purpose of preventing the yoke from rotating about the rivet. The arrangement is such that the transverse axis AA of the yoke, i.e., the axis of symmetry thereof perpendicular to the axis determined by the perforations in its limbs, extends at a distance a (FIG. 3) from the center of the plate 7, for reasons which will be discussed later. It is the purpose of the yoke 8 to receive for rotation a drive shaft 10 which is prolonged forwardly of the drawing (FIG. 1) by a portion 10a of larger diameter comprising a double flat 10b over a small length starting from the initial portion of smaller diameter. The portion 10a terminates in a manipulating knob 11 (see also FIG. 4). The double flat 10b, which is normally situated between the limbs of the fork 8, is intended to receive as a force fit a plate 12 which is formed with a corresponding central slot 12a. The said plate 12 is formed with a lateral toothing 12b.

Mounted for rotation on the shaft 10 is a stirrup member 13 fast with an oscillating tubular support 14, the two limbs of the said stirrup member 13 taking up a position between those of the yoke 8 and the plate 12 being mounted on the double flat 10b within the aforesaid stirrup, so that it may be said that, on assembly, the shaft is engaged in a limb of the yoke, in a limb of the stirrup, and then in the plate 12 itself before causing it to project through the second limb of the stirrup member and the second limb of the yoke. After assembly, the free end of the shaft 10 is burred, in order that it may no longer be withdrawn from the yoke 8.

The toothing 12b of the plate 12 meshes with a straight pinion 15 carried on one of the ends of a knurled-wheel-carrying shaft 16 which is mounted for rotation within the oscillating support 14. The end of the said shaft opposite the pinion 15 is screwthreaded, as indicated at 160, and it projects beyond the support 14 to receive a conventional circular knurled wheel 17. On the other hand, the end of the support opposite the stirrup member 13 is fast with a lateral lug 18 supporting a sleeve 19 orientated perpendicular to the shaft 16. Mounted for sliding in the said sleeve is a flint 20 adapted to co-operate with the knurled wheel 17, the said flint being subjected to the action of a compression spring 21 the opposite end of which bears in conventional manner against the bottom of a cap 22 screwed on the sleeve 19 which is appropriately formed with an external screwthread for this purpose.

The base plate 7 of the lamp is formed with an elongate window 7a (FIGS. 1, 3 and 4) arranged along the aforesaid transverse axis A-A of the yoke 8, in such manner that there extends through it the oscillating support 14 which is upwardly orientated. The width of the said window is of course greater than that of the support but it is less than the diameter of the knurled wheel 17 which is thus not able to extend through it. However, at its end located in the immediate vicinity of the yoke 8, the said window 7 widens out suddenly as indicated at 7b in FIGS. 3 and 4, to permit the passage of the transverse limb of the stirrup member 13. The transverse edge 7c delimiting the end of the widened portion 7b is disposed in such position relative to the yoke 8 that it constitutes an abutment for the limbs of the stirrup member 13, thus permitting the ascending displacement of the oscillating support 14 by rotation about the shaft 10, to an oblique position (shown in FIG. 1) wherein the point of contact between the flint 20 and the knurled wheel 17 is located substantially in a radial plane relative to the burner and parallel to the shaft 10. The length of the support 14 is such that the aforesaid contact point is substantially at the level of the mantle 5. Finally, the distance a (FIG. 3) is selected to be such that the knurled wheel does not contact the mantle 5 and there is therefore no risk of deterioration thereof.

The mode of functioning is as follows:

In the inoperative state, the oscillating support tends to drop back under force of gravity, pivoting about the shaft 10. Such displacement is arrested by the knurled wheel 17 which bears on the edges of the window 7a through which it is not able to pass. The position then is that shown in FIG. 4.

In order to light the lamp, after having opened the tap 4, the knob 11 is manipulated. Due to the braking effect exerted by the flint 20 on the knurled wheel 17, the shaft 16 does not initially rotate, so that the sole effect of the torque exerted on the knob is to rotate the oscillating support about the shaft in the ascending direction. In this way, there is reached the position shown in FIG. 1 wherein the limbs of the stirrup member 13 abut against the terminal edge 70 of the widened portion 7b of the window 7a. From this instant on, the support 14 is no longer able to rotate and consequently the torque applied to the knob 11 rotates the knurled wheel 17 through the agency of the bevel gear l2,12b,15 and the shaft 16, thus producing sparks in the conventional manner. The said sparks are projected in the direction of the mantle 5, which is extremely close, and they thus light the gas with maximum efficacy.

As soon as lighting has been effected, the knob 11 is released, so that the oscillating support drops back and the entire assembly of the device returns into the inoperative position shown in FIG. 4, wherein the knurled wheel, the flint and all the members or elements associated therewith are located well below the mantle 5, so that there is no risk whatsoever of their being brought to an excessive temperature.

Thus, the invention has in fact permitted the provision of a lighter device wherein the flint and the knurled wheel are disposed in the immediate vicinity of the outlet of the burner to be ignited during the lighting operation, whilst at the same time being spaced well away under normal functioning conditions, all this with an extremely simple mode of construction and without requiring any kind of accessory manipulation from the operator apart from rotation of the knob 11.

It should furthermore be understood that the foregoing description has been given purely by way of example and that it in no way limits the scope of the invention which would not be exceeded by replacing the details of embodiment described by any other equivalent arrangements. It will be understood that the shape of the oscillating support may vary. The bevel gear may be of any desired nature. The same applies to the system provided for guiding the flint and applying the same against the knurled wheel for as long as the said system is fast with the arrangements for clearance of the oscillating support. On the other hand, the device according to the invention may be applied to any type of apparatus comprising a gas burner, whatever the nature of the said apparatus and/or the shape of the burner.

I claim:

l. A lighter and a gas burner including a flint, and a spark wheel controlled by a spark wheel shaft, comprising an oscillating support in which said shaft is rotatably mounted, said support carrying a sleeve containing said flint, a lighting control shaft, the end of the said support opposite from the spark wheel being pivotally mounted on said lighting control shaft, a stationary part immovable on said burner in which the control shaft is mounted so that said oscillating support can rock the spark wheel to and from the burner, abutment means for limiting said rocking movement, said lighting control shaft rotating freely in both said oscillating support and said stationary part, and said lighting control shaft and spark wheel shaft being rotatably connected one to the other by bevel gearing.

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the stationary part is constituted by a yoke carrying the lighting control shaft for rotation, the said oscillating support having a stirrup member mounted on the said shaft, and said bevel gearing comprising two gearing systems disposed between the limbs of the stirrup member and the yoke.

3. Device according to claim 1, wherein the stationary part is mounted under a base plate provided below the burner to be ignited, the oscillating support extending through a window formed in the said plate, the said window having a width such that the spark wheel is not able to pass through it, and wherein the edge thereof adjacent the stationary part constitutes a stop limiting the upward displacement of the oscillating support.

4. Device according to claim 1, in which one of said abutment means limits the movement of the oscillating support on its angular travel around the lighting control shaft to the nearest position that the flint and spark wheel can reach with respect to the burner over all of said angular travel.

5. Device according to claim 1 in which the lighting control shaft has one end whichis fast with a coaxial pinion of the bevel gearing, and its other end fast with a coaxial manipulating knob.

i i t 

1. A lighter and a gas burner including a flint, and a spark wheel controlled by a spark wheel shaft, comprising an oscillating support in which said shaft is rotatably mounted, said support carrying a sleeve containing said flint, a lighting control shaft, the end of the said support opposite from the spark wheel being pivotally mounted on said lighting control shaft, a stationary part immovable on said burner in which the control shaft is mounted so that said oscillating support can rock the spark wheel to and from the burner, abutment means for limiting said rocking movement, said lighting control shaft rotating freely in both said oscillating support and said stationary part, and said lighting control shaft and spark wheel shaft being rotatably connected one to the other by bevel gearing.
 2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the stationary part is constituted by a yoke carrying the lighting control shaft for rotation, the said oscillating support having a stirrup member mounted on the said shaft, and said bevel gearing comprising two gearing systems disposed between the limbs of the stirrup member and the yoke.
 3. Device according to claim 1, wherein the stationary part is mounted under a base plate provided below the burner to be ignited, the oscillating support extending through a window formed in the said plate, the said window having a width such that the spark wheel is not able to pass through it, and wherein the edge thereof adjacent the stationary part constitutes a stop limiting the upward displacement of the oscillating support.
 4. Device according to claim 1, in which one of said abutment means limits the movement of the oscillating support on its angular travel around the lighting control shaft to the nearest position that the flint and spark wheel can reach with respect to the burner over all of said angular travel.
 5. Device according to claim 1 in which the lighting control shaft has one end which is fast with a coaxial pinion of the bevel gearing, and its other end fast with a coaxial manipulating knob. 